Electric fire and burglar alarm.



No. 874,483.- PATENTED DEG. 24,1907.

M; J. BRIGGS.

ELECTRIC FIRE AND BURGLAR ALARM.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 25,1906.

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V k A1 J 5/2 9 6 gwm atto'amw MELANGTHON J. BRIGGS, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

ELEc'rnrc FIRE nun BURGLAR ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1907.

Application filed April 25. 1906. SerialNo. 313.610.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELANCTHON J. BRIGGS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Electric Fire and Burglar Alarms, of which thefollowingis a specification.

This invention relates to a combined automatic electric fire and burglaralarm apparatus, and has been especially devised for use not only inprotecting life and property from dangers of fires originating in anoccupied building, boat or other place, or one where a watchman isemployed, but also for giving timely warning of an attempt of a burglarto enter a building or apartment.

The apparatus has a general use and application, and may be emplo ed inresidential, factory, hotel, ofiice or other buildings, and in somearrangements may cooperate with a section comprising a number ofbuildings, and under the latter circumstances be located at some stationunder surveillance of a watchman or attendant.

The apparatus is peculiarly adapted to the protection of buildings inrural districts destitute of either fire or police protection, and allspecies of water craft against serious fires and loss of life resultingtherefrom.

The improved apparatus gives the inmates of a building or watchman orother person timely warning of-the exact location of a fire when itfirst starts and at a time when it can be easily extinguished; andlikewise notifies the occupants of a building as to what part of thelatter may be subjected to burglarious attempts.

The apparatus has the advantage of -being wholly automatic in itsoperation when properly set, and further, in the day time or wheneverdesired" the burglar alarm may be cut off by means of a switch withoutin the least interfering with the operativeness of the fire alarmcircuits which are controlled by an initial circuit closing means orthermostat which responds to abnormal heat in any compartment or portionof a building or boat where it may be disposed. g

The ap aratus in givin a fire alarm does so through the medium 0 bothaudible and visual si als, so that the burglar alarm portion of t eapparatus will not in the least interfere with the fire alarmorganization there'- of -{when included with the other circuits, owingto the operation of the visual signals which will at once notify anobserver that the signal is for fire and the location of the fire, andan abnormal heat in any part of a building or boat can be readilydetermined from an annunciator also included in the apparatus.

When the burglar alarm and fire alarm are set for operation, or theapparatus arranged so that both will operate, either one or both may beactuated without interference of the fire alarm with the burglar alarmor vice versa.

The sign al'for the burglar alarm is entirel different from that givenfor fire, and in such case the indicator on the annunciator relates tothe burglar section which is entirely difierent from the section of thesame number when indicated in connection with a fire alarm.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of a supporting means showingthe improved apparatus arranged thereon. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating the circuits 'together with the main instrumentalitiesemployed in giving the signals. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of oneof the thermostats or initial circuit controlling means. i Fig. 4 is asectional view of a circuit controlling device forming the initialcircuit controlling means for the burglar alarm portion of theapparatus.

Similar characters of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

It is preferred that the apparatus be supported by a suitable board orbacking 1, thou h the same may be otherwise arran ed, and t e mainelements include an electric bell or gong 2, an annunciator 3, a smallerbell or gong 4, incandescent electric lam s 5, a battery 6, and switches7 and 8. l the parts just mentioned are of the usual or well knownconstruction and may be obtained in the market in condition forassemblage to complete the organization of electric elements embodyinqthe features of the invention. The electric bell or gong 2 is very muchlarger than the electric bell or gong 4, and both of these bells orgongs will always ring or sound for a fire alarm, but only the smallerbell or gong 4 rin s for the burglar alarm. As both electric be ls orgongs ring in the event of fire, with a prolonged operation, thedifference in ditions 1s the battery 6, and this will be cone venientlydisposed to render it readily a'ccessible. (Fig. 2). The larger electricbell or gong 2 is included in the main circuit with the attery 6,saidcircuit consisting of a wire 9- leading from-one pole of the batteryto the switch 7 and from the latter to one terminal of the ma et devicesof the electric bell or gong2. rom the opposite terminal of the saidmagnet devices, a wire 10 connects with a binding post 11, and from thisbinding post a section wire 12 extends any suitable distance away fromthe apparatus and connects with binding post 13 (Fig. 3) of a series ofthree thermostats14, of what'is termed for the purpose of illustration,a third section, or a certain compartment or part of a building, boat orother place, and from the last of the series of thermostats 14 the saidwire 12 continues on toand through another series of similar thermostats15 in a second section or compartment, and from said thermostats of thesecond com artment or section, this wire 12 continues t ough andconnects with a 1 series of thermostats 16 of a first section orcompartment of a building or boat. Each of the series of thermostatsalso has anotherwire 17 connect' with binding posts 18 (Fig. 3) thereofan also with a battery post 19, (Fig. 2), the latter bein placed inelectric communication with the attery 6 through the medium of a wire 20attached to the other element of the battery 6, the Wires 17 and 9representing respectively either the positive or negative elements ofthe said battery.

The annunciator 3, whichas shownis arranged for giving a visual signalfrom either one of three com artments or three different sections, isinclu ed in a circuit (Fig. 2) con sisting of. wires 21, 22, 23 and 24,the wires 24, 23; and 22 connecting with the wire 21 and with theindices or dropsof the annunciator as shown by Fig. 2, and the wire 21also connects with one extremity of the mag: net of the smaller bell orong 4, and from the opposite extremity or t e terminal of the lattermagnet a wire -27 runs to the wire 9. The lamp circuit includes'a wire26 connecting with the wire 9 and the two lam s 5, a

.wire 25 being interposed between t e two lamps. This lamp circuit isalso coupled by clude the larger electric bell or gong 2 and alsocomplete the circuit with respect to the battery 6.

The wire .22 connects with the binding post 36, and from said bindingpost a wire 37 runs to and connects with the thermostats 14, but doesnot continue beyond the latter and forms a section wire for controllingthe operation of index No. 3 of the annunciator, when the saidthermostats 14 close the circuit in view of abnormal heat in thecompartment or section of a building or boat in which they may belocated. The thermostats 15 have a section wire 40 attached thereto andsaid thermostats are intended to be located in a second section or roomof a building or boat and to this wire 40 a wire 39 is connected andalso to a wire 34 attached to a bindin post 35 with which the wire 23 isalso in e ectrical connection. From the thermostats 16 located in thefirst'section or roomiof abuilding or boat a section wire 41 runs to abinding post 42 and with the latter binding ost the wire 24 of theannun'ciator circuit a so connects.

The burglar alarm circuits include a binding post 31 from which a wire32-runs to the switch 8, and from the latter switch said wire 32continues to. the battery post 19. From the post 31 a wire 33 continuesoutwardly any distance from the apparatus as a feeder or continuation ofone of the battery elements and passes through all the compartments orsections. of the building where the apparatus is disposed for operation.The terminal of this wire-33 as shownv in the diagrammatic view, Fig. 2,re resents the first section or room in which t e burglar alarmcontrolling device may be located, and coopcrating therewith is asection wire 43 which connects with wire 41 attached to a binding post42, and to'this binding post the wire 24 1s connected as hereinb'eforeset forth. This circuit will control the operation of the No. 1 index ordrop of the annunciator and when the said circuit is closed theannunciator will give indication that an attempt is being made to entera section or compartment of a building which may be designated the firstsection. The wire 22 connects with the binding post 36 as heretofore setforth and by this means the No. 3 index of the annunciator will be 0erated when the circuit is closed by the burg ar alarm circuitcontrollingdevice which will be hereinafter set forth. v Connecting withthe wire .37 is a wire 38 which cooperates with the wire 33 and connectsWit the burglar alarm controlling device in the third'section. Theburglar alarm circuit in section or room No. 1 is made through themedium of a wire 43l'connectin with the wire 41 and cooperating wire 33,0th wires 43 and; 33 being attached to the burglar alarm controllingdevice. A wire 34 extend;

ing from the bindingpost 35 and connected" with the annunciator drop No.2 extends through the second section or compartment of the building andcooperates with the Wire 33 to. form the burglar 'alarm circuit for thatsection.

The apparatus is shown as adapted for use in three sections orcompartments, but it will be understood. that the apparatus may be usedin any number of compartments or sections by the addition of thenecessar wires, thermostats, burglar alarm control ing devices andincrease corresponding thereto in the number of annunciator indices ordrops. The preferred form of thermostat used is shown by Fig. 3 andembodies a metallic diaphragm 44 cooperating with the termin als of thebinding osts 13 and 18 which project in o erative re ation thereto, thepen hery of t 1e said diaphragm being attache by the wire 17 through thebinding 0st19 with the battery 6. When the diap ragm expands the circuitis completed through the binding osts 13 and 18 and the connectionstherefor in all the thermostats of each section or com-' partment, anumber of these thermostats bemg used by preference to insure theoperation of the apparatus and a quick res onse to abnormal heatcondition that may ll ent in different portions of a compartment orsection. These diaphragms 44 of the thermostats will be made responsiveto diflerent degrees of heat so that one series of the same may beplaced in a room having a normally higher temperature than another roomwhere there is a second series responding to another abnormaltemperature and so on throughout the whole thermostat organization so asto render the apparatus practical and definite as to the actuation ofthe signals, both audible and visual. In other words, the ap aratus isso arrangedv that the signals will respond only when there is the actualexistenc of fire.

The burglar alarm circuit controllin device is shown in detail in Fig. 4and inc udes in its structurea spring pin 45 held in a block 46 andworking through a face plate 47 of metal, the terminals of the wires ofthe several burglar alarm sections heretofore specified being connectedto the said plates 47 and the pin, the latter when released movingoutwardly and completing the circuit. This burglar alarm controllingdevice is inserted in a door jamb or window frame in such manner thatwhen the door or window is closed the pin will be forced inwardly andthe circuit including .the controlling device well remain open. As soonas the window or door is opened by a burglaror in an irregular manner,the'pin is released and the circuit closed.

It will be observed that two line wires of the fire alarm circuits andone line wire of e presthe burglar alarm circuits extend throughout theentire building, boat or other place in which the apparatus may beinstalled. In other words, one wire is common to, all the circuits andmay be pro erly termed the feed wire translating the e ect of one of thebattery elements. within the purview ofthe invention to adapt theapparatus for installation in particular places or locations. I

It will be noted that the binding post 19 is directly connected by thewire 20 with the positive side of the battery 6. The binding post 31 isconnected with binding post 19 by wire 32 to switch 8 and by wire 32 tobinding post 19. All other binding posts 11, 36, 35 and 42 areconnectedwith the negative side of the battery, ultimately by wire 9 throughswitch 7. Fire gong 2 is operatedby wirelO from binding post 1 1 to oneterminal of its magnet devices and from the opposite terminal by wire'9to battery 6. The lamp circuit includes wire 10 connected to wire 30extending to lamp 5 and wire 25 connecting lamp 5 with lamp 5 from whichwire 26 connects with wire 9, running to battery 6. The indicator No. 3on the annunciator 3 is operated from binding post 36 by wire 22connected with its drop or indicator, connected with wire 21 runnin toone extremity of the magnet of the smal bell 4 and from the oppositeterminal of said magnet by wire 27 to wire 9. The indicator on saidannunciator No. 2 is operated from binding post 35 by wire 23 runningthrough its drop or indicator and-connected with wire 21, and thence asabove indicated. The indicator on said annunciator No. 1 is operatedfrom binding post 42 by wire 24 running through its drop or indicatorand connected with wire 21, and thence as above indicated. From thebattery binding post 19 a wire 17 together with a wire12 from bindingpost 11 extend together through every section of thebuilding or boatprotected with the fire alarm and are each connected with everythermostat in the building. Wire 17 is attached to the bind- Changes maybe adopted ingpost 46 (Fig. 3) which connects with the periphery of thediaphram 44 (Fig. 3) of each thermostat; and wire 12 is attached tobinding post 13 (Fig. 3) of each thermostat." Upon the drawings (Fig.2), said wires areshown as attached to thermostats 14, 15 and 16 inthird, second and first sections of buildg- Section wire.-From bindingpost 36, a section wire 37 extends through thermostats 14, 14 and 14 ofthe third section and is attached to binding post 18 (Fig. 3) of eachthermostat. From binding post 35 a wire 39 extends through thermostats15, 15, 15 of the second section and is attached to binding post 18(Fig. 3) of each thermostat. From binding post 42 a wire 41 extendsthrough thermostat 16, 16, 16 of the first section and is attached tobinding post 18 of each thermostat. Thus when the abnormal heat appliedto the diaphragm of any thermo- 5 stat causes expansion thereofsufficient to show the number of the section when the 8 to binding post31.

circuit is so closed and the small bell 4 adds to the alarm.

The burglar alarm circuit extends from binding post 19 through wire 32and switch a wire 33 continues outwardly any distance from the apparatusas a feeder or continuation of one of the battery elements and passesthrough or to all rooms, doors, windows and other places protected andthrough all the different sections. Froin each section which may includeseveraldifferent contacts another wire extends from the several contactstherein to the binding post that controls or operates the number thereofon the annunciator 3.

On the drawing, (Fig. 2), the house wire 33 extends throughout theentire burglar alarm system as shown. Section wire 38 for the thirdsection extends from the contact or contacts in that section andconnects with wire 37 which connects with binding post 36 and operatesthe indicator of No. 3 on the annunciator 3, and thence through smallbell 4 as heretoforeshown in the action of fire alarm. Section wire 34for the second section extends from the contact or contacts on thatsection to binding post 35 which operates the indicator No. 2 of theannunciator, and thence through small bell 4 as hereinbef'ore specified.Section wire 43 for the first section extends from the contact orcontacts in that section to wire 41 which connects with binding post 42controlling or operating the indicator No. 1 on the annunciator, throughwire 24 and thence through small bell 4 as before described.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class'set forth, the combination with audibleand visual sig' nals, the visual signals'including electric incandescentli hts, and an-annunciator, of a battery or ot er source of electricalgeneration, a plurality of independent circuits each control ing some ofthe signalsand arranged to extend through different sections of abuilding, boat or other place to give distinctive fire and burglar alarmindications in addition to, andindepende'nt of the annunciator, oneconducting member of the fire and burglar alarm circuits extendingcontinu- From binding post 31' ously throughout the whole series ofsections and connecting with a common lead from the battery, andautomaticall cuit controlling devices in burglar alarm circuits.

2. In an a paratus of the class set forth, the combination of audibleand visual signal devices, a source of electrical generation, normally 0en circuits controlling the said audible an visual signal devicesindependently and arranged in sections, and automatic circuit closingdevices arranged in said circuits, some of which are operative bydifierences in tern erature to close the circuits of the severasections.

3. In an apparatus of the class set forth, the combination of aplurality of signal devices of different types, a source of electricalgeneration, circuits including the said devices and arranged insections, the signal devices being operative to indicate b'oth fire andburglar conditions and capable of individual or simultaneous operation,and automatic circuit closing devices included in the several sections,some of which devices are operative by variations in tern erature.

4. In an a paratus of the c ass set forth, the combination with aplurality of audible signals, visual signals, a source of electricalgeneration, circuits including the said signals and source of electricalgeneration, all of the audible signals being operated to give a firealarm, and one signal being operated to give a burglar alarm, and meansfor automatically closing diiierent portions of the circuits todesignate the location of a fire or the attem t of a burglar to enter abuilding or other p ace.

5. In an electric signaling system, a plurality of groups of juxta osedsignals, each group comprising'a plura ity of signals of a differenttype from any other group, circuits and a common battery for operatingsaid signals, and means for actuating one or more signals of each type,simultaneousl 6. In an automatic electric fire aiarm system, a series ofthermostats, one wire connecting said thermostatswith one'signal device,a second wire connecting said thermostats with a second signal device, abattery, a third wire extending through the thermostats, and acting as acommon return for the other two wires, a fourth wire connectingtherewith, and circuit closing devices responsive to bur lar conditionslocated between this fourt wire and an extension of the first wire.

7. In an electric automatic fire alarm system, a plurality of groups ofthermostats, a common two wire circuit extending to all of saidthermostats and connecting with a battery and a signal device, and aplurality of other wires, one extending to each group of 0th the fireand operating cir-.

thermostats, and each connecting its own therein responsive to burglarconditions, and 10 group of thermostats directly with the batadistinctive signal device in each circuit. tery through an independentsignal device. In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature 8. In acombined automatic electric fire in presence of two witnesse 5 andburglar alarm system a normally open' two Wire circuit, circuit dloserstherein re- MELANGTHON BRIGGS sponsive to fire conditions, a thirdwireform- -Witnesses: ing with one of the first mentioned wires a FREDWANNAMAKER,

second normally open circuit, circuit closers CHAS. S. HYER.

